Logitech S715i: Hot Looks and Sound in a Tight Package. Pity About The Bass Though [Review, Road Warrior Week]

Road Warriors are people, not simply animatronic robots — if you prick us, do we not bleed? If you lose our luggage, do we not get pissy? And people need tunage. That’s where Logitech’s S715i rechargeable speaker dock ($150) comes in. Sling it in a bag and it’ll provide the party out on the road while you’re furiously tapping at that TPS report or chilling post-deadline — and it’ll look hot doing it. Just don’t expect much when the party goes ballistic, because the bass simply can’t keep up.

The Good:

This is one handsome dock. Swoopy, sexy lines and tight construction impart a sense of sophistication. It feels solid; buttons feel good when pushed and the rear stand pops into place with a satisfying, soft click. It’ll look good sitting alongside an MBP, and it’s diminutive enough not to get in the way. And even though the S715i is a bit on the porky side for a portable dock, it still plays the role fairly well when packed into an overnight bag.

Docking is hassle-free, and while there aren’t any controls beside power and volume on the unit itself, there’s a small, simple remote to handle basic functions — power, track and volume controls, plus shuffle/repeat. There’s an aux port alongside the power port at the back, both of which are well sealed.

Sound is clear and bright, especially at low to medium volumes. Eight separate speakers (four pairs) make for remarkably detailed high-end from such a small package. But despite dedicated bass ports, there’s little thump.

It’s got stamina too — tracks played for a good eight hours before the dock finally died, just as Logitech claims.

The Bad:

Not to say the S715i doesn’t deliver the goods under most conditions — it does. But the higher the volume, the clearer the S715i’s bass shortcomings become as distortion appears.

The tiny remote feels dinky compared with the dock, and wasn’t too eager to actually work when pressed. Also, there’s no slot to keep it in (beside the slot for the power cord in the supplied canvas carrying case — which itself is pretty dinky).

Not that we’d expect it from a dock this size, but the iPhone won’t charge when the dock is running off battery power.

Verdict:

If you can overlook its accessories (as its designers seem to have done), aren’t bass nut and aren’t shopping for a bargain, the S715i makes a good pro-on-the-go traveling companion.

[xrr rating=70%]

Arm yourself, Road Warrior: We’re reviewing frequent-flyer worthy gear this week, as a salute to the throng of brave Appleites on their pilgrimage to the annual WWDC this week.

About the author:

When he was eight, Eli Milchman came home from frolicking in the Veld one day and was given an Atari 400. Since then, his fascination with technology has made him an intrepid early adopter of whatever charming new contraption crosses his path — which explains why he's Cult of Mac's test editor-at-large. He calls San Francisco home, where he works as a journalist and photographer. Eli has contributed to the pages of Wired.com and BIKE Magazine, among others. Hang with him on Twitter.

Thanks, caught the latter error; have no idea what you’re referring to in the former.

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